


Mississippi's First Constitution 
and Its Makers 



DUNBAR ROWLAND 



Reprinted from Publications of Mississippi Historical Society 
Vol. VI. 




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Mississippi's First Constitution 
and Its Makers 



DUNBAR ROWLAND 



Reprinted from Publications of Mississippi Historical Society', Vol. VI. 



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Photographic copy of a page from the manuscript of the first Consti- 
tution of Mississippi on file in the Department of Archives and 
History. 



MISSISSIPPI'S FIRST CONSTITUTION AND ITS 

MAKERS. 

By Dunbar Rowland.^ 

A recent visit to the little village of Washington, in Adams 
county, Mississippi, was so interesting from an historical view 
to me that I feel prompted to tell the story of what was done there 
eighty-five years ago in giving Mississippi its first organic law. 

A sentimental interest always attaches to those places where his- 
tory was made no matter how isolated and obscure they may be 
made by the changes wrought by a restless people. Independence 
Hall stands surrounded by the marble magnificence of a great 
modern city and looks poor, indeed, when compared with the state- 
ly structures of the "City of Brotherly Love," yet that little home- 
ly building of brick is dearer to the hearts of the American people 
and means more to them than all the priceless palaces of a great 
city. 

The little village of Washington may have been forgotten and 
the historic memories which gather about it and hover over it may 
be growing dim in the minds and hearts of those who should cher- 
ish and love them, if so then this monograph may revive an inter- 
est in and a love for the place where the State of Mississippi had 
its birth, where its first Constitution was made, where our pioneer 
forefathers began the great work of State building and may re- 
mind this generation of the great and noble deeds of the fathers 
of the State. 

The ruins of the little brick Methodist church of Lorenzo Dow, 
where the Convention met, are still to be seen on the campus of 
Jeflferson College; the college yell is now to be heard where 
formerly the voice of wisdom resounded, and the measured 
pace of drilling cadets and the merry shouts of boyish voices have 
taken the place of the slow and thoughtful walk and talk of the 
lawmaker and statesman. , 

In its early history Mississippi shone resplendent with talent 
and learning. If out of a bright galaxy of great names only a few 

' A sketch of the author of this article will be found in the Publications 
of the Mississippi Historical Socielv, Vol. III., p. 85. — Editor. 

(79) 



8o Mississippi Historical Society. 

are mentioned here it is hoped that it will not be considered invid- 
ious, or cause an envious pang to read of their well-earned fame- 
There are hundreds of others equally noble and true, whose char- 
acters are like the fresh and gentle flowers of a spring garden — 
too sweet and modest to seek brazen fame. 

It is the sacred duty of the State to cherish with vestal watch- 
fulness such men. Our true and lasting glory hangs on the lives 
and characters of our great men. 

"Like fabled gods, their mighty war 
Shook realms and nations in the jar." 

The State of Mississippi became a member of the Federal Un- 
ion December loth, 1817. The "Enabling Act," giving the Ter- 
ritory of Mississippi authority to form a Constitution and organ- 
ize a State governm.ent was signed by President Madison March 
1st, 1 81 7. The first Constitutional Convention met at Washing- 
ton, the Territorial capital, July 7th, 1817. A study of the mem- 
bership of that Convention, of the men who were delegates to it, of 
their traits, appearance, ideas and characteristics will reveal some- 
thing of the manly, sturdy, pioneer state-makers and nation build- 
ers who were but types of the founders of all the Southern States. 

The discussion and analysis of the organic law itself will be 
reserved for future publication. Before taking up the main pur- 
pose of the story it will be well to tell something of Washington, 
where the Convention met. The best description of the little Ter- 
ritorial capital as it was in 18 17 is given by Claiborne in his Mis- 
sissippi as a Province, Territory and State. It is thus graphically 
described by that historian: 

"The little town of Washington, six miles east of Natchez, in a rich 
wooded and picturesque country, was the seat of government. The land 
offices, the Surveyor General's office, the office of the Commissioners of 
Claims, and the courts of the United States v.'ere all there. In the imme- 
diate vicinity was Fort Dearborne and a permanent cantonment of United 
States troops. The highest officials of tlie Territory made it their resi- 
dence, and many gentlemen of fortune attracted by its advantages went 
there to reside. There were three large hotels, and the academical depart- 
ment of JefTerson College inaugurated by Go\ernor Claiborne was in suc- 
cessful operation. The society was highly cultured and refined. 

The conflicting land title.>^ had drawn a crowd of lawyers, generally young 
men of fine attainments and brilliant talents. It was a gay and fashionable 
place, compactly built for a mile or more from east to west, every hill in 
the neighborhood being occupied by some gentleman's chateau. The pres- 
ence of the military had its influence on society ; punctilio and ceremony, 
parades and public entertainments were the features of the place. It was 
of course the haunt of the politicians and ofiicc hunters ; the center of po- 



Mississippi's First Convention. — Rowland. 8i 

litical intrigue, the point to which all persons in pursuit of land or occu- 
pation first came. Washington was famous for its wine parties and din- 
ners, usually enlivened by one or more duels directly afterward." 

Such were the surroundings of the men who gave Mississippi 
her first Constitution and pointed out the way to future success 
and greatness. 

The Convention met on the day set apart by law and organized 
by the election of David Holmes, the Governor of the Territory, 
president, and Louis Winston, a scholarly lawyer secretary. 

The country was new and it might be supposed that the mem- 
bers of the first Constitutional Convention of Mississippi were 
rude unlettered frontiersmen with httle culture and less learning. 
If such an idea prevails now it is not in keeping with the facts 
of history. 

The first settlers of Virginia represented the best blood of the 
aristocracy of England ; the Pilgrim Fathers who landed on the 
bleak and cheerless shores of Massachusetts Bay belonged to the 
great middle class of the mother country; the Mississippi pioneers 
came from both elements. They had the generous impulses of the 
one combined with the sturdy independence of the other. 

It is generally supposed that the early settlers of Mississippi 
came altogether from a southern source, but that idea is far from 
the facts. The men and women who made Mississippi came from 
Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania as well as 
from Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. 

The Convention consisted of forty-seven delegates representing 
fourteen counties.- The following list is taken from original 
sources : 

Adams County— David Holmes, Josiah Simpson, James C. 

' Biographical notes and sketches of (he following members of this Con- 
vention will also be found in Claiborne's Mississif>pi as a Provwce, Terri- 
tory and 5-/a/^s-pavid Holmes (pp. 302-3) ; Josiah Simpson (p. 7,^2) ■ 
]TTcR- ^'?'"'/& ^53) ; John Taylor (pp. 353-4) ; Christopher Rankin 
(p. 354) , Eflward Turner (p. 354-5) ; Joseph Sessions, John Steele. H 1 
Balch. Joseph E. Davis, John Ford, Dougal McLaughlin, and Noel Jourd'n,, 
T i,^W^ T°f ^w".^^' J'''S^^ I'Mon. Clinch Grav, Laughlin McK-y, 
John McRae, John Mcl.eod, Thomas Bilbo, Harman Runnels and Waller 
Leake (p. 356) ; 1 homas Barnes, Joshua G. Clark, Henry D. Downs 
Gerard C. Lrandon, Abram M. Scott, Daniel Williams, John Joor, Joseph 
Johnson, and David Dickson (p. 357) ; Cowles Mead (pp. 275-7) ' Georffe 
Poindcxter (pp. 361-414); and W. M. LaUimore (pp. 262-3, note) — 
Editok. ' ' 

6 



82 Mississippi Historical Society. 

Wilkins, John Taylor, Joseph Sessions, John Steele, Christopher 
Rankin, Edward Turner, 

Jefferson County — Cowles Mead, H. J. Balch, Joseph E. Davis, 
Cato West. 

Wilkinson County — George Poindexter, Daniel Williams, 
Abram M. Scott, John Joor, Gerard C. Brandon, Joseph Johnson. 

Amite County — Henry Hanna, Thomas Batchelor, John Bur- 
ton, Thomas Torrance, Angus Wilkinson, William Lattimore. 

Claiborne County — Walter Leake, Thomas Barnes, Daniel Bur- 
net, Joshua G. Clarke. 

Pike County — David Dickson, William J. Minton, James Y. 
McNabb. 

Marion County — John Ford, Dougal McLaughlin. 

Hancock County — Noel Jourdan, Amos Burnet. 

Wayne County — James Patton, Clinch Gray. 

Greene County — Laughlin McKay, John McRae. 

Jackson County — John McLeod, Thomas Bilbo. 

Warren County — Henry D. Downs, Andrew Glass. 

Franklin County — James Knox, John Shaw. 

Lawrence County — Harmon Runnels, Geo. W. King. 

David Holmes, the president of the Convention, was a good 
composite type of the entire body. The membership represented 
faithfully the two great types of American life — the Northern, 
with its industry, business capacity and fortitude, and the South- 
ern with its capacity to govern, its courage, brilliancy and dash. 

David Holmes was a product of the two types. His father 
was from Pennsylvania, his mother was a Virginian. The father 
of David Holmes was the commander of a regiment in the patriot 
army of the Revolution, his mother was a Miss Hunter of a family 
in Virginia that has given many historic names to the country. 

David Holmes was born in York county, Pennsylvania, March 
loth, 1769.* When he was an infant his parents moved to Win- 
chester, Virginia. There were three sons born to the Holmes 
family. The oldest was Judge H. H. Holmes, a justice of the 
General Court of Virginia for twenty-five years. The second 
son was Col. A. H. Holmes, a brave officer of the American army 
who was killed in Canada during the War of 18 12. David Holmes 
was the youngest son of this distinguished family. In his youth 

'Some authorities claim that Governor Hohnes was born in Virginia. 







Photographic copy of the first page and 
part of the second page of the manuscript 
journal of the Mississippi Constitutional 
Convention of 1817 on file in the Depart- 
ment of Archives and History. 



Mississippi's First Convention. — Rozcland. 83 

he had the advantages of a college training; after he reached 
maturity he read law and began the practice in Virginia. Before 
he was thirty years old he was elected to Congress. President 
Madison appointed him Governor of Mississippi Territory in 1809. 
His appointment caused many of his Virginia friends to go with 
him to the new country. After a service of eight years as terri- 
torial governor he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention and made its presiding officer. Governor Holmes 
presided over the Convention with dignity, tact and ability. He 
served Mississippi faithfully for about eighteen years as Gover- 
nor and United States Senator. In 1827 he returned to his boy- 
hood home at Winchester and died there in 1832. 

Governor Holmes was not a man of pre-eminent ability, he 
might truthfully be termed a plodder, a name which has been 
given to the highest type of genius — a man who can work and 
will and win. 

George Poindexter, a delegate from Wilkinson county, was the 
master-mind and admitted leader of the Convention. He has been 
pictured as the meanest man who was prominent in the early his- 
tory of Mississippi ; there is little doubt that he was the intellectual 
if not moral leader of that time. He lived during a period when 
bitter, partisan political feeling was indifferent alike to the rules 
of courtesy and fair dealing, and much of the slander and infamy 
heaped on Mr. Poindexter was doubtless the work of his personal 
and political enemies. 

The mantle of charity is thrown over his faults, he did a great 
work for Mississippi in spite of them. Time has now tempered 
the harshness of the judgment of the moral characteristics of 
George Poindexter. He was a Virginian by birth and was the 
son of a brilliant Baptist preacher. He studied law, was admit- 
ted to the bar, came to Mississippi in 1802 and located at Wood- 
ville, Wilkinson county. His unusual ability and brilliancy as a 
lawyer and advocate caused Governor Claiborne to appoint him 
Attorney-General of the Territory during the first year of his res- 
idence. Six years later he was elected by the Legislature to rep- 
resent the Territory in the Congress of the United States. He 
was Congressman six years and gave up the position to accept 
a seat on the Supreme bench of the Territory. He was elected 
a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and made chairman 



84 Mississippi Historical Society. 

of the committee appointed to submit a draft of a proposed con- 
stitution to the general Convention for adoption. The constitu- 
tion which was finally passed was mainly the work of Judge Poin- 
dexter. After the State was admitted to the Union he became, 
in 1820. the successor of Governor Holmes, and was elected to 
the United States Senate in 1830. Judge Poindexter attained 
the highest honors in the executive, legislative and judicial de- 
partments of the State government, and few Mississippians have 
been so signally honored. 

Judge Poindexter had wonderful mental vigor and intellectual 
grasp. He has left his impress on the jurisprudence of Mis- 
sissippi which time cannot efface. 

Louis Winston, the Secretary of the Convention, was a schol- 
arly young lawyer from Virginia who had come to the new State 
in search of fame and fortune. He was a member of the famous 
Winston family of Virginia, many of whom have shed honor on 
State and Nation. The young lawyer made an ideal secretary, 
he was careful, courteous and courtly, and his bearing in the Con- 
vention afterv/ards made him a leader in the new State. Winston 
county perpetuates his name and fame, and Louisville, the county 
seat was named in his honor. 

Walter Leake was a member from Claiborne county. He was 
a careful, industrious, pains-taking lawyer who had come to Mis- 
sissippi through the Federal government as a member of the 
Territorial Supreme Court. Judge Leake was one of the work- 
ing members of the Convention. He was a native of Virginia 
and had much of the ease and polish of manner common among 
the country gentlemen of that State. Judge Leake and Thomas 
H. Williams were the first United States Senators from Missis- 
sippi. After serving three years in the Senate he resigned to be- 
come Governor of the State. His political career being almost 
an exact counterpart of that of George Poindexter. During 
the administration of Governor Leake the State Capitol was finally 
located at Jackson. He died during his term of office and his re- 
mains rest in the peaceful shades of the little college town of 
Clinton. 

(jcrard C. Brandon, a delegate from Wilkinson county, was 
probably the only native Mississippian in the Convention. He 
was born in Adams county in early Territorial days and was a 
large land owner and planter. His father was one of the pioneer 



Mississippi's First Convention. — Rozvlaiui. 85 

State-makers of what was then called the great Southwest. Gov- 
ernor Brandon was a cultured man of high character and his work 
in the Convention won the confidence and admiration of the peo- 
ple to such a degree that they called him to fill the highest offices 
in the new State. He was twice elected Lieutenant-Governor 
and in both instances filled out the unexpired terrn of his chief. 
The first was caused by the death of Governor Leake, the second 
by the resignation of Governor Holmes. In 1827 he was elected 
Governor, and re-elected in 1829. Governor Brandon was one 
of the purest and best men of Mississippi. After faithful public 
service he returned to his plantation in Wilkinson county respect- 
ed and loved by all the people. His last public service was in 
the Constitutional Convention of 1832. 

Cato West, of Jefiferson county, was one of the most attractive 
and picturesque members of the Convention. He was one of the 
largest planters and slave owners of the Territory, and may be 
well taken as the representative of its aristocracy. He was a 
Virginian and was born in the famous old county of Fairfax. 
The ancestors of Col. West were men and women of distinguished 
lineage. His father was a wealthy country gentleman of the 
"Old Dominion," and gave his son all the advantages that riches 
could bestow. Col. West came to Mississippi in the early days 
of the Territory and made his home at Pickering, in Jefferson 
county. When W. C. C. Claiborne was appointed Governor of 
Mississippi Territory by President JefTerson in 1801, Col. West 
was appointed secretary. In 1803 Governor Claiborne was ap- 
pointed by President Jefiferson one of the commissioners to re- 
ceive the Louisiana Territory from France and during the absence 
of the Governor, Col. West was the acting executive of the Ter- 
ritory. He was an elegant gentleman, a forceable and eloquent 
speaker and was one of the leaders in the early development of 
Mississippi. 

Among the able men that Adams county sent to the Convention 
Christopher Rankin stands prominent. He was a leader of the 
Natchez bar when the "Enabling Act" was passed. Pennsylvania 
was his native State and like many other cultivated young men 
of the North came South as a school teacher. While teaching a 
country school in Georgia he studied law and after passing a sat- 
isfactory examination was admitted to the bar. The young 



86 Mississippi Historical Society. 

lawyer located at Liberty in Amite county in 1809. Natchez was 
then the metropolis of the Territory, and Mr. Rankin located 
there in 1809. He had grown to be one of the great lawyers of 
Mississippi in 1817 and was a leader in all public affairs. He 
was one of the ablest men in the Convention and his learning and 
wisdom were felt. After the adoption of the constitution and the 
organization of the State government Mr. Rankin went before 
the Legislature as a candidate for United States Senator and was 
defeated by Judge Walter Leake. He was afterward elected to 
the lower House of Congress and served three terms. Rankin 
county was named in his honor. 

Cowles Mead was a brilliant member from Jeflferson county. 
He had a somewhat sensational but highly honorable career before 
coming to Mississippi. Virginia was his native State. Georgia 
became his home in early life. He was admitted to the bar when 
very young and soon became prominent as an active partisan fol- 
lower of Thomas Jefferson. His party nominated him for Con- 
gress as soon as he became eligible and the contest that followed 
resulted in his receiving the certificate of election together with a 
notice of contest. The contest resulted in the seat being given to 
his opponent. He was at once appointed secretary of Mississippi 
Territory by President Jefferson and came to Natchez to discharge 
the duties of the office. He was acting governor of the Territory 
in 1807, when Aaron Burr was arrested on Mississippi soil and 
charged with a conspiracy to disrupt the Union. Mr. Mead 
handled the Burr case with tact, good judgment and ability. In 
the Constitutional Convention he made a great reputation as a 
brilliant, emotional and showy speaker and an able parliamentar- 
ian. Governor Meade was Speaker of the Legislature in 1823- 
'24-'25. Meadville, the county seat of Franklin county, serves 
to honor and keep alive his memory. 

John Taylor, of Natchez, was one of those men who succeed 
in spite of all obstacles. He had no early advantages of birth, 
education or wealth. He was born in Pennsylvania of poor and 
honorable parents. With the help of some kind lawyer friends 
he managed to obtain license to practice law. The friendless 
young lawyer drifted down the Mississippi from St. Louis and 
located at Natchez in 1805. He was willing to work and soon 
found something to occupy his professional talents. After a res- 



Mississippi's First Convention. — Rowland. 87 

idence of twelve years at his new home Mr. Taylor was one of 
the prominent lawyers of the Territory and was selected to repre- 
sent his county in the Constitutional Convention. Judge Taylor 
was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. 

Josiah Simpson, a delegate from Adams county, was one of the 
great lawyers and jurists of the Convention. He was a university 
man, an accomplished scholar and a graduate of Princeton, Like 
Governor Holmes, Judge Simpson was born in Pennsylvania and 
married a beautiful woman of Virginia. He came to Mississippi 
in 1812 by appointment of President Madison as a member of the 
Territorial Supreme Court. Judge Simpson was a valuable mem- 
ber of the Convention, his culture and learning were in constant 
demand on all important committees. One of the old historic 
homes of Natchez is Devereaux, the old home of Judge Simpson. 
It is beautiful in its loveliness and has many sweet memories clus- 
tering around it. 

Edward Turner, of Natchez, was a strong worker and leader 
of the Convention. He had many honors conferred on him while 
Mississippi was a Territory and they were increased when the 
State was admitted to the Union. He was an elegant, cultured 
Virginia gentleman and was the son-in-law of Col. Cato West. 
He served the Territory and State as Clerk of the Legislature, 
Register of the Land Office, Attorney General, Circuit Judge, 
Chancellor, Congressman, and Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court. Judge Turner brought great legal learning into the Con- 
vention and with Poindcxter, Rankin, Taylor and Iveake as his 
co-laborers he did much of the actual labor and toil of its pro- 
ceedings. 

One of the most accomplished and interesting delegates was 
Noel Jourdan, of Hancock county. He was a scholar of unusual 
attainments, a man of the world who had seen and appreciated 
much of the knowledge and culture of Europe, and a lawyer 
learned and profound. Mr. Jourdon was the son of a French 
sergeant who came to America with the army of Count Rocham- 
beau to aid the patriots of the new world in their fight for free- 
dom. After the surrender of Lord Cornwallis Sergeant Jourdan 
decided to quit the French service and become a citizen of the 
country that he had fought to free. He located in New Orleans 
and established a French bakery that soon became famous and 
made its owner rich in a few years. The wealthy baker finally 



88 Mississippi Historical Society. 

retired from business and went to live in the lovely coast country 
of Mississippi in Hancock county. To make his son a learned 
man and an accomplished scholar became the aim of his life. 
Noel Jourdan was sent to Paris in his early manhood and was 
kept there until he had acquired all the culture of the then intel- 
lectual center of the world. On his return to America he at once 
became the leader of the coast counties and was the chosen 
champion of their interests in the Convention. Mr. Jourdon was 
inspired by pure and high ideals of true and just government and 
his efforts for his State were guided always by them. 

Dr. William Lattimore was one of the delegates from Amite 
county. He was a scholarly, scientific physician who had come 
from Virginia to Mississippi in the "flush times" of the Territory. 
Dr. Lattimore had a talent for politics, and had represented the 
Territory in Congress for several terms. He was in Congress 
at the time of the passage of the "Enabling Act" and was largely 
instrumental in having the Territory admitted to the Union. His 
last public duty was the location of the State Capitol at Jackson 
in 1822 in connection with Gen. Thomas Hinds and Judge Peter 
A. Van Dorn. 

Joseph E. Davis, of Jefferson county, came from Kentucky and 
located at Greenville. Mr. Davis was a profound lawyer and 
scholarly man. He was the elder brother and guardian of Jef- 
ferson Davis. The President of the Confederacy pays this trib- 
ute to his brother : 

"He was a profound lawyer, a wise man, a bold thinker, a zealous advo- 
cate of the principles of the constitution as understood by its founders, with 
a wide-spreading humanity which manifested itself especially in a patri- 
archal care of the many negroes dependent upon him, not merely for the 
supply of their physical wants but also for their moral and mental elevation, 
with regard to which he had more hope than most men of his large ex- 
perience. To him materially as well as intellectually I am more indebted 
than to all other men." 

James C. Wilkins, of Adams county, was an admitted force in 
the Convention. He was the richest merchant of the Territory 
and represented the business interests. Mr. Wilkins was a native 
of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He came to Natchez and inarried 
into the Minor family and soon became prominent in public af- 
fairs. Pie was a soldier in the Mississippi Volunteers and shared 
the glories of Gen. Jackson's victory over the English at New 
Orleans. 



Mississippi's First Convention. — Rozvland. 89 

Abram M. Scott was another delegate to the Convention from 
Wilkinson county, who became Governor of Mississippi. He was 
a native of South Carolina. In the Creek War he commanded a 
company of Mississippi troops and did valiant service under Gen. 
Andrew Jackson. Governor Scott was a genial man of ability, 
courage and high character. He served two terms as Lieutenant- 
Governor and succeeded Governor Brandon in 1832. 

Gen. John Joor, of Wilkinson county, was the most fascinating 
and picturesque figure on the floor of the Convention. While 
he was a man of wealth and breeding he was social and demo- 
cratic in his life. Gen. Joor came to Mississippi from South 
Carolina and was a descendant of one of the best old Huguenot 
families of the State. He was a typical Southerner of the old 
time when dueling and fire-eating were the most popular diversions 
of the day. 

Joshua G. Clark was one of the able delegates from Claiborne 
county. Born in Pennsylvania he came to Mississippi Territory 
to practice law and soon attained high rank at the bar. He was 
one of the best legal minds in the Convention and did faithful 
service by his wise advice and counsel. Judge Clark was the first 
Chancellor of the State, and his service on the bench was honor- 
able and upright. 

Harmon Runnels came to Mississippi from Georgia. He had 
been a fighting captain in the Continental Army and was a ready, 
forceful, strong character. He founded a family that became 
very influential in the State. The home of the Runnels was Mon- 
ticello, Lawrence county. One of his sons, Hiram G. Runnels, 
was elected Governor in 1831. 

Dougal McLaughlin, of Marion county, was a son of North 
Carolina and was a descendant of a hardy Highland clansman of 
bonny Scotland. He was a grand old man with all the virtues 
of his race. 

Gen. James Patton represented Wayne county. He was a sol- 
dier, lawyer and orator of courtly manners and distinguished bear- 
ing. He was afterward elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State. 

Col. Daniel Burnet represented Claiborne county. He came 
to the Southwest when Mississippi was a Spanish Province as an 
expert surveyor and after its admission into the Union served 
his people with fidelity in many public positions of honor and 



go Mississippi Historical Society. 

trust. Col. Burnet was one of the most faithful of the early 
pioneers. 

The men who gave Mississippi her first constitution belong now 
to an almost forgotten past, to a time that may be said to be the 
romantic period of the State's history. It is well to remember 
them. They belong to a time that can never be reproduced, it was 
indeed heroic. They had many of the noblest virtues of men. 
They represented a phase of Mississippi life which gave to suc- 
ceeding generations a type of man that excites the admiration of 
all men. In many of them the rural simplicity of the plowman 
was combined with all the graces and accomplishments of the man 
of the world. All had a passionate fondness for state-craft, or- 
atory and politics. They were high strung, passionate and quick 
to take offense ; they were men of superb courage, unmoving in- 
tegrity and unsullied honor. 



PuDlications of m mississippi fiistorlcal Society. 



CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. 

I Missi<!<!ippi's "Backwoods Poet," by Prof. Dabncy Lipscomb. 2. Mississippi as a Field for 
the Student of Literature, bv Prof W. L. Weber. 3 Suffrage ia Mississippi, by Huu. R. H. Tho.np- 
son. 4. Spanish Policy in .Mississippi after the Treaty ol San Lorenzo, by Franlin L Riley. 5. lime 
and I'lace Relations in History with Some .Mississippi and Louisiana Applications, by frof Henry 
F Chambers 6 The >tudy and Teaching of History , by Irol Herbert B. Adams. 7. Some Facts in 
the Harlv History cf Mississippi by Prof R. W. Jones. 8. Prehistoric Jasper Ornaments m Missis- 
sippi by Chan. R. B. Fulton, q. Suggestions to Local Historians, by i'rof. Franklin L. Riley. 10. 
Some Inaccuracies in Claiborne's History in Regard to recumseh, Ly H. S. Halbert, Ksq. it. Did 
Jones County Secede ? by rrof. A. L. Bondurant. 12. Index. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. 

I. The Historical Element in Recent Southern Literature, by Prof. C. Alphonso Smith. 2. Irwin 
Russell — First fruits of the Southern Romamic Movements, by Piof W.L.Weber. 3. William Vard, 
a Mississippi Poet F:ntilled to Distinction by Prof. Dabney Lipscomb. 4. Sherwood Bonner, Her 
Life and Place in Literature of the ^outh, by Prof, A. L. Bondurant. 5. "The Daughter of the Con- 
federacy " Her Life, Character and Writings, by Prof Chiles C. Ferrell. 6. Sir William Dunbar, the 
Pioneer Scientist of Mississippi, by Prof Franklin L. Kiley. 7 History of Paxatiou in Mississippi, 
by Prot. C. H. Brough. 8. I'erritirial Growth in Mississippi, by Prof J. M. VXhite. g. The Early 
Slave Ltws of Mississippi, by Alfred Holt Stone, Esq. 10. Federal Courts, Judges, Attorney^ and 
Marshalls of Mississippi, by T. vi Owen Esq. 11. Running Mississippi's South Line, by Peter J. 
Hamilton, Esq. 12 F;iiz,-ibeth Female Academy— The Mother of Female Colleges, by Bishop Chas. 
B GaPoway. 13. Early History of Jefferson College, by Mr. J. K. Morrison. 14- The Rise and Fall 
of Negro Rule in Missi.ssippi, bv Dunbar Rowland, Esq. 15 Glimpses of the Past, by Mrs. H. D. BeU. 
16. Historic Adams County, by Gerard C. Brandon, Esq 17. The Historical Opportunity of Missis- 
sippi, by Prof k. W. Jones. 18. Nauih Waiya, the Sacred Mound of the Choctaws, by H. S. Halbert, 
Esq. 19. Index. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME III. 

I. Report of the Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting. 2. The Campaign of Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, in I'^ea.-from April 15th to and Including the B? of Champion Hills, or Baker's Creek, 
May 16th, 186^, by Gen. Stephen U. Lee. 3 .■^iege of Vicksourg, by Gen Stephen D. Lee. 4. The 
Black and Tan Convention, by Col. J. L Power. =;. Plantation Life in Mississi, pi before War. by 
Dunbar Rowland, F:sq 6. Private Letters of .Mrs Humphreys, Written Immediately before and after 
the Ejectment of her Husbind from (he Execuli%'e Mansion by Mrs. Lizzie George H nderson. 7. 
Importance of the Local History of the Civil War, by xMrs. Josie F. Cappleman. 8. William C. Falk- 
ner. Novelist, by Prof A. L Bondurant. 9. James D Lynch, Poet Laureaie of the World'.- Columbian 
Exposition, by I'r if Dabuey Lipscomb 10 Bishop Otey as Provincial Bishop of Mississippi, by Rev. 
Arthur Howard Noll. 11. Richard Curtis in the Country of the Natchez, by Rev. Chas. H. otken. 12. 
The Making of a State, by Miss Mary V Duval. 13. Location of the Boundaries of Mississippi, by 
Franklin L. Riley, Ph. 1). 14 Report of Sir William Dunbar 10 the -Spanish Government, at the Con- 
clusion of His Services in 1 ocating and Surveying the Thirty first Degreeof Latitude. 15 A Histori- 
cal Outline of the Geographical and Agricultural Survey of the State of Mississippi, by Eugene W. 
Hilgard, Pn D. 16 History of the Application of Science to Industry in Mississippi, by A. M. Muck- 
enfnss, Ph D. 17. William Charles Cole Claiborne. t)y Pro H. f; Chambers. 18. Transition from 
Spanish to American Control ia .Missi-sippi, by Franklin L. Riley, Ph D. ig Grenada and Neighbor- 
ing towns in the 3' 's, by Capt. L Lake. 20. History of Banking in Mississippi, by Chas. H Brough, 
Ph. D. 21. Origin and Location of the A. and M. College of Mississippi, by Prof J. M. White. 22. 
Funeral Cnsioras of the Choctaws, by Mr. H. S. Halbert. 23. Danville's Map of East Mississippi, by 
Mr. H. S. Halbert. 24. Index. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV. 

I. Report of the Annual Meeting, April i8-rg, 1901. by Dr. Franklin L. Riley. 2. Campaign ol 
Generals (Iraut and Sherman against Vicksburg in December. i86i. and January :.st and 2nd, 1863. 
known as the "Chicka-aw navou Campaign." by Gen Stephen D Lee. 3. Shei man's .Meridian Ex- 
pedition from Vicksburg to Meridian, l-ebruary 3rd to .March 6lh, 186?, by Gen. Stephen 1). Lee 4. 
Capture of Hollv Springs, December 20, 1812 bv I'rof J. G. Heupree. 5. Battle I'f Corinth and Sub>-e- 
quent Retreat, by Col. James Gonlon. 6 Work of the United Daughters of tiie Confederacy, by .Mrs. 
Albert fl, Werms. 7. Local Incidents of the War between the .^tates, bv Mrs Jo.sie Frazee Capple- 
man 8 The First Struggle over recession in Mississippi, by Mrs Jas. W. Garner, q. Heconstruclion 
in East and Southeast Mi-sissippi, by Capt. W H. Hardv. to. Lega' Status ol Slaves in Mississippi 
before the War, by W. W. M ignider, F'sq. 11. Mississippi's Constitution and Statutes in Reference to 
Ireedmen and Their Alleged Relation to the Reconstruction .Acts and War Anieiulments, by A. H. 
Stone. I'Isq 12. History of Millsaps College, by Pres. W B Miiriah. 13 Lorenzo Dow in Mississippi, 
by Bishop Chas. B. Galloway. 14 Early Beginuings of Haptists in Mississippi, t)y Rev. 7,. T. Leavell. 
15. Importance of Archaeology, by Peter J. Hamilton, Esq. 16. The Choctaw Creation Legend, by 
H. S. Halbert, Esq. 17. Last Indian Council on the Noxubee, by H. S. Halbert, Ksq. 18. The Real 



Philip Nolau, by Rev. Edward Hverett Hale. 19. Letter from Geoige Poindcxter to Felix Uustou, 
Ksq. 20. The History of a County, by Mrs. Helen D. Bell. 21. Recollections of Pioneer Life in Mis- 
sissippi, by Miss Mary J. Welsh. 22. Political and Parliamentary Orators and Oratory in Mississippi, 
by Dunbar Rowland, Esq. 23. The Cnevalier Bayard of Mississippi, — Kdward Gary Walthall, by Miss 
Mary Duval. 24. Life of Gen. John A. Quitman, by Mrs. Rosalie Q Duncan. 25 T. A S. Adams, 
Poet, Educator and Pulpit Orator, by Prof Dabney Lipscomb. 26. Influence of the Mississippi River 
upon the Early Settlement of Its Valley, by Richard B. Haughton, Esq. 27. The Mississippi Panic of 
18(3, by Col. John A. Watkins. 28. Union and Planter's Bank Bonds, by Judge J. A. P. Campbell. 29. 
Index. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME V. 

I. Administrative Report to the Governor, by The Commission. 2. An Account of Manuscripts, 
Papers, and Documents Pertaining to Mississippi in Public Kepositories beyond the state. (1). Eor- 
eign Archives, by Peter J Hamilton. K&q. (2). Federal Archives, by Thomas M Ovrens, Esq, (3). 
State Archives, by Franklin L. kiley Ph. D. (4) Libraries and Societies, by Prof. James M. White. 3. 
An Account of .Manuscripts, Papers, and Documents in Public Repositories wiihin the State of Mis- 
sissippi, (i). State Offices, by Franklin L. Riley. Ph. D, (z). County Offices, by Prof Jame!« M. White 
and Frankl n L- Riley, Ph. I). 1^). Municipal Offices, by Prof. James M. White and Franklin L. Riley, 
Ph. D. (4). Federal Offices, by Franklin L Riley. Ph. D (5>. Educational Institutions. (6). Church 
Organizations. (7). Professional, Literary, and Industrial Organizations, by Prof, James M. White. 
(8) Benevolent and Miscellaneous Associations. (9 . Libraries and Societies, by Prof James M. 
White and Franklin L. Kiley, Ph. D. 4. An Account of Manuscripts, Papers, and Documents in Pri- 
vate Hands, (i). Papers of Prominent Mississippians, by Prof James M. White. (2). Private Collec- 
tors and Students, by Franklin L Riley, Ph. D. (3). Newspapers. (4 . War Records. 5. Abo- 
riginal and Indian History, (i) Published Accounts of Prehistoric Remains, by Mr. H. S. Halbert 
and Capt, A. J. Brown. (2). Small Indian Tribes ot Mississippi, by Mr H. S. Halbert. 6. Points and 
Places of Historic Interest in Mississippi, (i). Extinct Towns and Villages of Mississippi, by Frank- 
lin L. Riley, Ph. D. (2) Battlefields. 7. Index. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME VI. 

I. Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Historical Society, by Franklin 
L. Riley. 2. R^pon of the Secretary and Treasurer, 18^8-1902, by Franklin L Riley. 3 Battle of 
Brice's Cross Roads, by Gen. Stephen D. Lee. 4. Battle of Harrisbiirg, or Tupelo, by Gen. Stephen D. 
Lee. ,s. The Clinton Riot, by Dr Charles Hillnian Brough. 6. Conference between Gen George and 
Gov. Ames, by Hon Frank Johnston. 7. Mississippi's Hirst Constitution and Its Makers, by Dunbar 
Rowland, Esq. 8. -Secession Convention of i860, by Judge Thomas H Woods 9. Causes and Events 
That Led to the Callin? of the Constitutional Convention of 1890, by Judge S. S. Calhoon. 10. History 
of the Measures Submitted to the Committee on Penitentiary in the Constitutional Convention of 1890, 
by Hon. J H. Jones. 11. History of the Measures Submitted to the Committee on Klective Kran- 
Chise, Apportionment, and Flection in the Constitutional Convention of 1890, by Hon- J S. McNeilly. 
12. Suffrage and Reconstruction in Mississippi, by Hon. Frank Johnston. 13. Some Historic Homes 
of Mississippi, by Mrs. N. U. Heupree 14. Early Times in Wayne County, by Hon J. M. Wilkins. 
15. Industrial Mississippi in the Light of the Twelfth Census, by I )r A. vi , Muckenfuss 16 The 
Mississippi River and the Efforts to Confine It in Its Channel, by Maj Wm Dunbar Jenkins. 17. 
Origin of the Pacific Railroads, and Especially of the Southern lacific, by Hon. Edward Mayes. 18. The 
Origin of Certain Place Names in the .-^tate of Mississippi, by Mr. Henry Gannett. 19. The Catholic 
Church in Mississip].i during Colonial Times, by Rev. B. J Bekkers. 20. Robert J. Walker, by Geo. 
J. Leftwich, Esq 21. Story of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit, by Mr. H S Halbert. 2>. The Yowanne 
or Hiowanni Indians, by Peter J. Hamilton, Ksq, 23. Location and Description of the Emmaus Mis- 
sion, by Mr. John H. P'vans. 24. Bernard Romans' Map of 1772, by Mr. H S, Halbert. 25. Aniiqni- 
ties of Newton County, by Capt. A. J, Brown. 26. Route of DeSoto's Expedition irom Taliepalaua to 
Hnhasene, by Prof T. H.' Lewis. 27. Report of the Department of Archives and History, by Dunbar 
Rowland, Esq. 28. Index. 



Volumes I. and II., neatly bound together in cloth (360 pages) will be sent, 
charges collect, to any express address upon the receipt of $3.00. This edition is 
limited. A few copies of Volume I. (no pages), unbound, may be purchased for 
$1.00 each. Volume II. (250 pages), in separate biadiog, is no longeron sale. Vol- 
ume III. (380 pages), IV. (580 pages). V. (394 pages), and VI. (568 p:/ges), bound in 
cloth, will be sent to any express address, charges collect, for $2 each. 

All persons interested in advancing the cause of Mississippi history are eligible 
to membership in the Society. There is no initiation fee. The only cost to mem- 
bers is, annual dues, $2.00, or life dues, $30.00. Members receive all publications 
during their connection with the Society, free of charge. 

Donations of relics, manuscripts, books and papers are solicited for the museum 
and archives of the Society. 

Address all communications to 

FRANKLIN L. RILEY, Secretary and 'Treasurer, 

University, Mississippi. 



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